Where is Earth?

I should have left a review a long time ago, but what I recently posted here reminded me that I should post a review: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1798270/eventcomments/598521912287569547 If you like unique, indie, "retro" games, then "Where is Earth?" won't disappoint. It's a kind of different twist and focus on the kind of planet exploration and space battles of the classic "Star Control 2" (and other games of that era and style). It's difficult, but the kind of difficulty that ends up requiring you to figure out how best to approach it, and it makes progression and getting to the end all the more satisfying. It even has a story to tie it all together. It feels like a game that was made in the 90s, but with an original idea and style, and using more modern tech. That's more of a compliment than a criticism. Most importantly, it's fun. And, as a unexpected bonus, it even saw a recent update, even after several years of being complete and fully playable! (It's nice to see a dev that cares.)

I got goosebumps [spoiler]when I did the final jump back to Earth and I could recognise the planet[/spoiler]. I finished on easy and now trying normal. The game feels different on normal. An auto-save would be nice. I spent too much time in the menu for saving. But I hate losing my vehicle, so I might be saving too often. (Update: Devs added an auto-save recently) When I showed our daughter we could play together. She did the driving and I did the shooting. The game has been running really well. No crashes yet.

For me as a beginner in a combat gaming world, Where is Earth has been a delightful introduction to this intergalactic exploration. From the get-go, the top-down perspective offered a unique view of the cosmos, making me feel like a space pioneer navigating through the unknown. The game's easy level allowing me to enjoy the storyline, get accustomed to gameplay mechanics, and gradually become more proficient in the art of this intergalactic survival. Crafting became a crucial part of my gameplay, and I was pleasantly surprised by how intuitive it was to assemble upgrades, vehicles, and weaponry. Each success in gathering resources and improving my gear felt like a significant achievement, encouraging me to push further. In conclusion, my beginner's journey has been so far a fantastic adventure. I look forward to progressing further.

You're down on the planet in your car for (I'm guessing here as I didn't time it) 45 seconds if you're driving around and a good chunk of that is ramming the dang spider so you can mine something. If you're lucky you get 20 seconds drilling before the spider shows up or you run out of energy. The planet game is an exercise in frustration and that was on EASY mode.